Rescue on Everest: A Cordonian thought that he was dying at his second summit attempt

A Cordouan had to be rescued by helicopter while he was attempting for the second time to make a summit on Everest, the highest mountain in the world, after suffering from pulmonary edema.

Ricardo Birn (51) had reached 8,400 meters altitude but decided to return. It was just May 22, the day when there was an impressive traffic jam at the top of the mountain, with more than 200 mountaineers waiting their turn to climb on the "roof of the world", 8,848 meters.

An image with the long line of athletes at the edge of the summit, taken by Nirmal Purja, has become viral.

When he was less than 500 meters to reach the top, Ricardo already felt sick and was suffering from cold and height. He had severe rib pain and was coughing with blood.

Two years ago, on May 20, 2017, Birn was also about to go to the top. At that time, he reached 8,700 meters, but he had to return because he was losing vision with one eye, his toes were frozen and he did not have enough reserves of oxygen.

A Nepalese mountain guide died Friday on Mount Everest, bringing the number of deaths this season to the highest peak in the world at seven.

decision

"Arrive on the balcony and see that it was about five hours away and crowded with people who made me count and that I will suffer a lot, with such a risky condition for my lungs that I'm in trouble. I decided to take the turn, "he said. The climber of Cordoba in a video that he posted on Facebook from a hospital in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

"Arriving at camp 4, I had very intense pains in the right rib, I thought I had a pneumothorax and my ribs were broken."

He managed to get to Field 3 amidst intense pain, and decided to inject dexamethasone, a powerful synthetic glucocorticoid commonly used to fight pulmonary edema in high mountains.

"I was literally thinking that I was dying, I was saved because I put this dexa myself, and then I had this terrible rescue, hanging on a rope, at the base camp, "he explained.

His wife, Erica, in the distance, could coordinate the rescue. In 2017, he had also been rescued by helicopter.

A few days after his return to the country, he remains hospitalized for pneumonia, although he hopes to be able to return soon: "I hope that by the 30th, I will be able to take the plane for Argentina, leave this box and greet my loved ones They are worried, "he said in statements on the radio in Cadena 3 and Miter Córdoba.

The athlete said that he had put "all that was to be put" and that for him he had "made the summit": "For me, the mountain that I have made, it was my peak night ". "I survived as best I could, at the summit of Everest, I hope to return soon to my country," he said.